Alas, we will never eat these 18 cereals from the 1980s again

It was the heyday of sugary breakfasts. Who says you can't have doughnuts, s'mores and ice cream in the morning?

We are serious cereal junkies. Breakfast of champions? Pshaw. It's the dinner of champions as well. Nothing pairs better with your favorite sitcom than a heaping bowl of crunchy rice, corn and oats.

Previously, we shared with you some of our favorite forgotten cereals of the 1960s and 1970s. Now, we take the Delorean back to the 1980s. It was an golden era when cereals became sweeter, marshmallowier, doughnuttier — and licensed by popular toys, games and movies.

Grab a spoon and dig into the past for the prize. 

1. C-3PO's

 

Goldenrod got his cereal in 1984, a year after the first trilogy wrapped up. As for the shapes, they looked like Bs and 8s. Hey, why didn't they bring this back as BB-8's Cereal?


Image: Mr. Breakfast

2. Donkey Kong Junior

 

Naturally, there was a Donkey Kong Cereal, too. But we're spotlighting Junior because 1) it was fruity and banana-shaped and 2) Donkey Kong Jr. was a better video game. Debate! This hit stores in 1983.


Image: Tom's Heroes

3. Dunkin' Donuts

 

In 1988, it was time to make the cereal! This delicacy came in Glazed and Chocolate varieties. Look closely and note the three shapes — rings, holes and twists.


Image: Flickr / Gregg Koenig

4. E.T.

 

"Made with E.T.'s favorite flavors, chocolate and real peanut butter." These were brilliant, a sort of Reese's Krispies.


Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

5. Ice Cream Cones

 

With its mascot Ice Cream Jones, these sugary servings from 1987 stopped pretending they were healthy. They even came with gumballs inside. Still too healthy? There was a Chocolate Chip iteration as well.


Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

6. Marshmallow Krispies

 

Launched in 1982, this rather basic concept oddly no longer exists. The Fruity variation featured a young Fred Savage delivering stand-up comedy in its commercial.



Image: Flickriver

7. Nerds

 

Now this was genius. Two cereals in two compartments, just like the candy. Though, let's be honest, this was breakfast candy. Orange/Cherry vied for your taste buds with Grape/Strawberry in 1985.


Image: Complex

8. Nintendo Cereal System

 

Another dual-compartment box! If watched cartoons circa 1988, there is no way this jingle was not stuck in your head.


Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

9. Mr. T

 

We pity the fools who didn't try this in 1984. Well, okay, it was essentially Cap'n Crunch.


Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

10. OJ's

 

Just as banana was uncommonly popular as a flavor in the 1960s, orange cereals cropped up in the 1980s. Why are citrus cereals so hard to find now? This was barely available around 1985, it seems, but we fondly recall it.


Image: Flickr

11. Pac-Man

 

Fun fact: Former sitcom star Marty Ingels was the voice of Pac-Man. The video game icon became a marshmallow treat in 1983.


Image: The Nerd Filter

12. PB&J

 

This curiosity from 1982 never made it to mass market, despite the appeal of the explorer PB and his dog J. Would you try this flavor combination?

Image: Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries

13. Powdered Donutz

 

Doughnuts — er, "Donutz" — were quite the rage. Probably because it was an easy way to rebrand Cheerios for sugar fiends. This 1980 launch also came in a Chocolate Flavor Donutz variety.


Image: Pinterest

14. Raisin Squares

 

See, it wasn't all about the kids demographic. These chewy nuggets from 1982, basically raisin-stuffed Mini Wheats, were quite tasty.


Image: Cereal Bits

15. Rocky Road

 

Hey, it had 8 essential vitamins. Is "chocolate" a vitamin?


Image: Cereal Bits

16. S'mores Crunch

 

Dentists must have adored the 1980s. This day-starter took Golden Grahams, dusted 'em with cocoa and added marshmallows.


Image: Flickr / Jasonliebigstuff

17. Smurf Berry Crunch

 

If the Strawberry Shortcake Cereal failed to provide enough berry variety, there was this two-tone spoonful.


Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

18. Waffelos

 

The sweetest of all cereal decades kicked off with the launch of this maple-rich crunch.


Image: Retroist

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75 Comments

madmark1 33 months ago
These were unique cereals the only cereal I think they should bring back is Rice Krispy marshmallows most of those cereals were based off of video games and movies and cartoons and was kind of gross what’s really crazy some of the companies that made those cereals actually made pet food Ralston Parina made several of those cereals.
normie 33 months ago
My faves were post toasties king vitaman which king vitaman was similar to Cap'n crunch but better and loved quisp they still make quite but mainly find it at dollar general
MDCSWildcats1986 33 months ago
Rocky Road cereal I remember because it had a cartoon rock band let by "Van the Vanilla Puff" on lead guitar.

Think he influenced Billie Joe Armstrong?
rikkirat 33 months ago
I never heard of or ate any of these cereals since I was no longer a kid by the time the 80s rolled around. I can feel my glucose levels shoot through the roof just looking at them though.
WF 34 months ago
The original, basic types were always the best: Corn Flakes, Cheerios, Chex, Wheaties, Grape Nuts. But I was particularly fond of "Post Fortified Oat Flakes" (haven't seen those since the 1970's) and "Corn Bran" (aka "Crunchy Corn Bran" and "Crunchy Bran"). I haven't seen those since about 2002. Gone but not forgotten.
Catman 34 months ago
My favorite cerreals when I was a little kid were Kix, Cheerios, and Cornflakes. I never was a sugar lover, but I have been a carb addict my entire life. Gimme bread, gimme pasta, keep your cake and pass me the potatoes, please.
RichLorn 34 months ago
I only ate cereals that offered some cheesy giveaway. "A genuine secret decoder ring for only 850 box tops and a self-addressed stamped envelope".
OldTVfanatic 34 months ago
I loved Smurfberry Crunch and S’Mores Cereal as a kid, and the Mr. T cereal was great too.
Lantern 34 months ago
I miss Team cereal (from General Mills) the most. It came along in the 60s and was discontinued in the late 80s. It wasn't a sugared cereal - it was flakes made from wheat, corn, oats and rice. It was so good - I used to eat it straight from the box.
PernellDH Lantern 25 months ago
Actually, Team cereal was made by Nabisco.
DiscoBob911 34 months ago
Just the other day, I saw boxes of Powdered Donuts, S’mores, and Waffles cereals on the store shelf! My cereals of choice back then were Cocoa Pebbles, Trix, Frosted Flakes, Cinnamon Frosted Mini Wheats, Fruit Loops, Capt Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cheerios and Count Chocula. I also enjoyed Oatmeal with cinnamon and walnuts thrown in and finally, Cinnamon Pop-Tarts, obviously, heated the way they were suppose to be, in the TOASTER not the microwave!
Does anyone do it that way today? I doubt it!
KJExpress DiscoBob911 34 months ago
I'll pop an occasional Pop Tart in the toaster.
timothys71 34 months ago
Although I was a pre-teen and teenager in the 1980's (the "71" in my username is a reference to my birth year), I mostly preferred "grown-up" cereals, although I did kind of like Waffelos. Raisin Squares were my hands-down favorite from this list. How about Apple Raisin Crisp, Buc-Wheats, and Crispy Wheats & Raisins? Those are 3 cereals that I liked in the 80's and haven't seen in ages.
KJExpress 34 months ago
I wasn't eating cereal anymore at this point. I used to like Cocoa Puffs, Quisp, Frosted Flakes (until they got soggy). Maybe some Cap'n Crunch. Cocoa Crispies. 🥣
denny KJExpress 34 months ago
I ate Corn Pops, Rice Crispies (seems you had to add your own sugar), Super Sugar Crisp, Froot Loops, and occasionally Frosted Flakes because of the soggy issue you stated. Probably been 25-30 years since I've had cereal.
KJExpress denny 34 months ago
Those are all the cereals I grew up with. And it's funny you mention adding sugar to the Rice Krispies. I can remember doing so when visiting my grandmother. Seems funny to think of it now!
AgingDisgracefully 34 months ago
Again? I ignored these back then to beat the rush.
I'm still a Wheaties fan.
"They're crispy. They're crunchy. The whole meal through.
Jack Armstrong never tires with them.
And neither will you."
Michael AgingDisgracefully 34 months ago
I used to think Jack Armstrong was a sports figure. Untilrecent times, reading about Jonny Quest and how originally it was going to be a cartoon about Jack Armstrong and his adventures.
AgingDisgracefully Michael 34 months ago
I have an unanswered Jonny Quest question: did Race Bannon ever marry?
JimmyD 34 months ago
I never had any of these. I was a Cheerios kid with honey drizzled on it.
Runeshaper 34 months ago
I do recall some of these! Yes, I totally would have tried PB&J (-:
Blake3b 34 months ago
Oh such great (and sugarfied!) memories here! Waffles, wow I forgot about those! Delicious. Loved those along with, ice cream cones, pac man, donkey Kong, DK jr, Nintendo, frankenberry, boo berry, count chocolate, Ohs, etc

Raisin squares were so good, even without milk as a snack. I think of them often and how I wish they were around now. At least they were healthier.
Blake3b Blake3b 34 months ago
Smores also!
Sway 34 months ago
I know I never ate any of these cereals, not sure if I ever even heard of them. They wouldn't have appealed to me in the eighties as they still don't.
Susan00100 34 months ago
I hate TV commercials that promise gullible kids super-powers if they ingest certain foods.
How many kids would gobble down a bowl of Kellog's Apple Jacks--and then be beaten to a pulp by school bullies?
Barry22 Susan00100 34 months ago
Same for Cheerios.
MrsPhilHarris 34 months ago
I’m not familiar with these cereals. I bet they contained massive amounts of sugar.
Michael MrsPhilHarris 34 months ago
"Wholesome sugar goodness".
Coldnorth Michael 33 months ago
The favorite cereal of dentists. All That sugar
Big3Fan 34 months ago
I don't recall eating any of these products. As a shredded wheat fan, a bowl of Raisin Squares sounds appealing.
Blake3b Big3Fan 34 months ago
Raisin squares were delicious! As an adult now and trying to eat healthier I would love if those came back in the stores. I think of them often
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